Accountants and corporate service providers in London

A founder from abroad who wants a UK company run with help in London has the widest choice in the country: 133 firms here work with owner-managed businesses, landlords, contractors and companies owned from overseas. The company itself is registered online with Companies House, whose main office is in Cardiff, so choosing a London adviser is a question of fit and service, not of where the registry sits.

This page looks at how the London market is arranged for a non-resident owner, so you know what to ask before you send a quote request.

Firms in London

1Office UK

Accounting firm · Medium-sized firm

London

  • Company formation
  • Accounting and bookkeeping
  • Tax compliance
  • +5 more

Languages: English · Estonian · Finnish · Latvian …

View profile of 1Office UK

Hawksford

Corporate services provider · International network

London

  • Company formation
  • Accounting and bookkeeping
  • Tax compliance
  • +6 more

Languages: English · Chinese

View profile of Hawksford

TaxAce

Accounting firm · Boutique firm

London

  • Company formation
  • Accounting and bookkeeping
  • Tax compliance
  • +2 more

Languages: English · Romanian · Ukrainian · Russian

View profile of TaxAce

Taxd

Accounting firm · Boutique firm

London

  • Company formation
  • Accounting and bookkeeping
  • Tax compliance
  • +2 more

Languages: English

View profile of Taxd

109 more firms in London

Who advises founders in London

The mix in London is 124 accounting firms and 9 corporate service providers. Small practices make up 93 of them, 35 are medium-sized and 5 belong to a large network. A small practice tends to put one named person on your file. A larger firm can staff a group with a holding company, a trading subsidiary and a branch, and London is where firms name those structures: 7 handle family investment companies, 7 special purpose vehicles, 6 UK subsidiaries of foreign groups and 6 branches.

Limited companies are the entity type named by 93 firms, ahead of partnerships (54), limited liability partnerships (44) and sole traders (44). Trusts are named by 18. If you plan to hold the UK company through another entity abroad, ask which of these structures the firm has dealt with for an overseas shareholder.

Industries and client groups

Construction is the industry named most often, by 34 firms, followed by e-commerce (30), healthcare (27), charities (27), property (23) and hospitality (22). Technology and professional services are named by 15 and 14 firms. Among client groups, landlords come first with 28 firms, including 12 that name non-resident landlords. Contractors are named by 16 firms and high-net-worth individuals by 8. A founder who runs an online shop or a consultancy for clients abroad will find fewer firms that describe that profile than one who buys property, so ask for an example of a similar client.

Services and languages

Company formation is offered by 92 firms, accounting by 121, VAT by 118 and payroll by 116. Tax compliance is covered by the whole group of 133. Corporate secretarial work is offered by 83, virtual office support by 45, bank account assistance by 36 and audit by 35. Residence and visa help is rare, with 9 firms. A UK company must have a physical UK address as its registered office, and an accountant’s address can be used with their permission, so ask whether a firm offers this and on what terms.

In English, 45 firms say they work with clients. Romanian, Russian, Ukrainian, Urdu, Polish and Portuguese each appear for three or four firms, and Italian for 3. Of the 133 firms, 81 describe a focus on foreign clients. Companies House now requires identity verification for directors and people with significant control, and 3 London firms name registration as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider; ask whether the firm can verify you or only guide you.

Next steps

The legal steps are explained once in the UK country guide, and the company formation page explains how to choose a provider. If you are comparing cities, the other pages are Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh. To have your request passed to suitable London firms, send one free quote request.

Frequently asked questions

Which languages do accountants in London work in?

In London, 45 of the 133 firms name English as a working language. Romanian, Russian, Ukrainian, Urdu, Polish and Portuguese each appear for three or four firms, and Italian for 3. Companies House forms and HMRC notices are in English, so ask whether the firm will explain them to you in your own language.

Do London firms handle company formation and the yearly accounts?

Yes. 92 firms offer company formation and 121 offer accounting, so the firm that sets up the company can usually keep its books afterwards. Ask whether formation, bookkeeping, the annual accounts and the Corporation Tax return are quoted together or separately.

Can a London firm help if my company is registered elsewhere in the UK?

Often yes, because filings with Companies House and HMRC are made online. Your registered office must still be a physical UK address. If you prefer a firm nearer to that address, compare the pages for Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh.

How many London firms work with foreign clients?

Foreign clients are a stated focus for 81 of the 133 firms, and 12 name non-resident landlords. Ask for an example of a company they have set up for a shareholder living abroad and which documents that person had to provide.

Is there a London firm for a branch or a UK subsidiary of a foreign group?

Six firms name UK subsidiaries and six name branches, while 5 belong to a large network. For a group structure, ask who coordinates the filings, who signs off the accounts and whether one contact covers all entities.

Do London firms offer a registered office address?

45 firms offer virtual office support and 83 offer corporate secretarial services. The registered office must be a physical UK address where post can be received, so ask exactly what the firm provides and whether it covers confirmation of delivery.

Other cities in United Kingdom

Services in the UK

Setting up a company in the UK: the guide and every firm

General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules, rates and fees change: check them with the official sources linked on this page or with a qualified adviser before you act.